Ash tray



Aprii 15, 1952 ASH TRAY y Filed Apri1 1, 1946 P. s. HARPER 2 SHEETS-SHEET l awa/agga- Patented Apr. 15, "1952 ASH TRAY- Philip S. Harper, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Harper- Wyman Company, Chicago, Ill.,. a `corporation of Illinois Application April 1, 1946,7Ser`al No. 658,706 15`Cl-aims. (Cl. ISI-235) The present invention relates 'to ash trays and more particularly to portable ash trays adapted for use by cigarette smokers and `of a size adapted'toA be placed upon a desk, table or the like, although certain features of the invention arev applicablev to other types of smokers accessories. i One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved ash tray having 4a closure member directly connected to a depressible actuating lever which, when depressed,` moves the closure member to an open position. n

Y A further object of the present invention is :to provide a new and improved ash tray of the character set forth vin the preceding paragraph wherein the closure member is substantially centrally mounted relativerto its associated opening and is pivotally movable toward one side of the opening.

'i 'A further object of the present invention is to ropening which is lnormally closed by a closure member but'which is movable to an open position andwherein saidlclosure` member is so constructed and arranged relative to the opening :defining structure that the opening is .substantially tightly closedf in one position of the closuremember and the latter is. moved further away from the structure as it istmoved` to its open position. Y l

l`Another object of the present invention is theprovision of a new and improvedash tray having a snuiiing groove in which cigarettes or the like may be snuffed or. extinguished..

A further object` of the presentinvention ,is -to provide a new and improved ash tray` of.` the character having a receptacle openinginormally closed by a closure member and wherein said closure member is` provided with a groove in which cigarettes .or the 'like mayL be snuifed; or extinguished and, preferably, in which they are heldn A further and more specific object ofthe present invention is toprovide van ash tray-of the character specified in the preceding paragraph wherein the receptacle opening defining structure is provided with an ejector tongue or nger effective to eject cigarette stubs into the receptacle` when the closure member is movedto its openposition. c l

A further object of the present invention` is to provide a new and improved ashtray of the type including a1 closure member normally closingfanopening and movable to an open position wherein said closure member has an 'external portion with a curved and preferably a spherical surface.-

A further object of the presentlinvention is to provide a new and improved ash tray including a closure member normally closing an opening and operable by mechanism, a portion Vof which is disposed below the member to open the opening and wherein said 4closure member is 'provided with a substantially atsurface located above the said portion ofthe mechanism for'the purpose of protecting the mechanism and for directing the cigarette butts or other material placed into the ash tray toone side of the mechanism; A further objectv of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved ash. tray having a closure member normally closing :a receptacle opening movable directly by an-actu ating lever connected to the closure member and extending above structure defining the open- Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved ash tray of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the actuating lever is movable only` .a predetermined distance, which distance is preferably determined by engagement of an outer portion of the actuating lever with the ash tray structure. f' s 1 A further object of the present invention isto provide a new and improved actuating mechanism for a movable closure member of an ash tray and, more particularly, a mechanism .whichr is characterized by a novel means for adjusting the tension of a spring returning the closure member to its receptacle closing positionandfby novel means for holding the spring in place.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the en-L suing description of an embodiment thereof'in the course of which reference is hady to` the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig'. 1` is a top plan view of an ash tray constructed in accordance with the presentinven-i tion; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view,upon.a reduced scale, of the ash tray; i

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 but showing. the closure member in elevation and partly broken away, better to illustrate certain details of the actuating mechanism; l

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the ash tray partly broken away and illustrating the upper portion of the ash tray in section alongthe 3 line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and with a portion of the closure member shown in elevation and also partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the ash tray with the closure member in its open position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3 but with the closure member in its open position.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l to 5, inclusive, it may be seen that the ash tray of the present invention includes a base I0 and a removable cover I2. The tray is characterized by the large ash receiving space I4 in the base or receptacle, as it may be called, and the ready removability of the cover from the base. The base preferably includes a circular bottom I6 and an annular side wall I8 terminating in a flat top surface 20. The base is preferably of integral construction and may be made as by die casting. The cover I2 includes a central raised or vupstanding easily gripped portion 22 and a thin outer peripheral portion 23, whereby the cover may be easily removed and which necessitates positive and secure gripping of the base when the ash tray as a whole is to be moved.

The cover is provided with a plurality of radial cigarette receiving grooves 24 and the cover constitutes structure defining a receptacle opening 26. The opening 26 is formed centrally by a downwardly and inwardly inclined wall 28, the lower edge of which and, therefore theV opening, are in a substantially horizontal plane.

In accordance with one of the important features of the present invention, the opening 26 is adapted to be normally closed by a closure member indicated, as a whole, by reference character 30. In order to facilitate construction and improve operation, the outer surface 32 of the closure member is curved, and preferably generally spherical thereby substantially completely to close the opening 26 when it is in its closed position. The closure member is so mounted relative to the opening, as will be described in detail hereinafter, that in closed position it vapproaches substantially closely to the lower edge of wall 28 and closes the opening 26, whereas as soon as it is moved toward and when in open position, it is spaced from the wall, thereby enabling the closure member readily to bevmoved.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the closure member is provided with a, depressed central cigarette butt receiving and snufiing groove 34 of substantial height and preferably tapered so that the butt m'ust .be forcibly pushed therein and when so pushed isextinguished and held. Y

A cigarette, or a plurality of cigarettes in the snuffing groove, is ejected into the receptacle space I4 when the closure member is moved to its open position. This ejection is accompli-shed by an ejector tongue or linger 36 extending downwardly and inwardly into'the groove 313, which grooveextends in the direction of movement of the closure member or, otherwise stated, length- Wise relative to the direction of movement of the closure member. The tongueforms, in effect, a continuation of the side wall 23. The opposite end of the groove is normally closed by a similar tongue or finger 36. f

`The closure member 3G is mounted or pivotal or oscillatory movement about an axisdeiined by shaft 40 located below and substantially centrally of the opening. The shaft is supported in a, pair of spaced apart downwardly extending lugs 42 and 44 formed integral with the cover and located at opposite sides of the opening 26. The closure member is rotatably supported upon the shaft 40 by a pair of spaced apart and apertured side walls 46 and 48 through which the shaft extends. In order to provide additional freedom for movement of the closure member, brass washers 50 are interposed between the side walls 46 and 48 of the'closure member and the dependent lugs 42 and 44 of the cover. The brass washers reduce the friction and properly position the closure member and cover relative to each other. The cover and the closure member, it should perhaps be mentioned, are made of the same material and in the same manner as the base.

The closure member is operated from its normally closed to its receptacle opening position by a novel operating mechanism including simply an actuating lever 52 having a generally vertical portion 54 extending above the cover through an opening 55 in the upraised portion 22 and having an inwardly curved lower portion 56 pivotally connected directly to the closure member. The opening 55 is aligned with groove 34 and is located substantially midway between the lugs 42 and 44. The pivotal connection includes a pin 58 parallel to shaft 4U and passing through the curved lower portion of the lever and through a pair of spaced apart lugs 60 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 4) formed integral with central spaced apart webs 62 extending below the central portion of the closure member, the arrangement thus constituting a, single xed pivot connection.

The actuating lever 52 is depressed to open the closure member but the direct pivotal connection requires the upper end 54 to move somewhat angularly, as indicated by a comparison of the solid line closed and dotted line open positions of the lever in Fig. 4. For this reason, the opening 55 in the cover through which the lever passes must provide suicient clearance to enable the lever 52 to move` angularly as well as downwardly. The arrangement may well be called a loose iit.

To facilitate depression of the actuating lever a round knob 66 is mounted at the top of the lever, which `knob also serves as a movement limiting means determining the open position of the closure member.

The closure member is returned to its normal closed position when the actuating lever 52 is released by a main spring 68, which. according to another feature of the present invention, is supported upon shaft 40 and is adjustable to vary the returning force applied to the closure member. The adjustment is effected in a novel manner by angular movement of the shaft 40 into desired angular position. One end I0 of the spring 68 isroperatively connected to the closure member in a suitable manner as by passage through a small opening 12 in the side wall 46, as best illustrated in Fig. '7. The opposite end is xedly secured to the shaft in novel manner by a keeper spring 'I4. The keeper spring has several turns 16 at one end and a bent over portion I8 at its opposite end passing through a small opening in the shaft 40. The other end 82 of the main spring is provided with a bent over or curved or looped portion passing between the shaft and theigenerallyaxiall-y extending portion 84 of the keeper spring. This arrangement enables the Amain spring readily Lto be assembled relative up on the shaft.

The tension of the springl 68 is adjusted by angular movement of the'shaft 40. This angular movement is effected after moving the shaft axiallyto-the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, to withdraw-the square portion r86 of an adjusting nut 88 from beneath a shoulder 90 formed in the dependent lug`44, asbest illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 7. Theadjusting nut 88 is xedly secured to the shaft as byknurl fit. When the desired adjustment ofA spring tension has Ybeen made, the adjustingnut is lreleased and the spring 68 pulls the vsha-ft 'back to the `leftwhere itisheld in the desired'angular position'by engagement between the square portion 860iA the nut V'and the-shoulder90.

AAs previously indicated, the spherical surface 32 of 1the closure member substantially closely approaches ywall 28and closes the opening 26 in its lnormalclosed -position but moves awayV from th'ewall and opening as it is moved .toward open position. This result is -accomplished 'by 'displacing'thecenter` line ofthe spherical surface relativeto the axis about which the closure 'membermoves This displacement maybe very slight, as about 1,454 of'an inch for a sphere having a-diameter of 11A inches. The spherical surface centerv is displaced -to the left and down Wardly relativeto. the axis of the shaft 40, as`

viewed in Figs. 4 and 8, and as indicated by the referencecharacter D in' Fig. 8. Thus,l as 'the closure member'moves clockwise, it risesfandvsub stantiallycloses the opening 26. l

The closed positiongof the closure member is determined by engagement between its :front sideA (theright side as viewed in Fig. 4) and shoulders 92 `at the sides of tongue 38 and formed inL tegralwith the cover.

`In order to deflect ejected cigarette stubs in the-groove 34 and also other material lying loosely-on top of the closure member Ainto the base and to protect the mechanism, the front side of the closure member is made solid and preferably ilat, as indicated by reference character 94. The surface 94 isso disposedA that the tongue 436 projects slightly therebeyond in the open position` of the closure member, as indicated in Fig. 5. thereby to ensure complete ejection.

From the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it vmay `be noted that the ash tray vmay bev constructed and assembled readily and economically. Itv comprises but a few parts which maybe-readily made, as 'by die casting, and which can be easily assembled. The assembly of the actuating-mechanism and particularly of the spring for returning the closure member to its closed position is simplified by the use of the mainV andv keeper springs. Furthermore, the spring tension can be adjusted easily and effectively.v In use, the closure member is` normally in its closed `positionxwhereat .it .is held. by the Vmain spring. The snuiing groove` 34 is thus at :the toprof` the trayV and at the center of therdepressed portion so that cigarettes may vbe easily placed vintothe groove and extinguished. Space iszprovided for more than one ,cigarette so that thefclosure-memberneed not be opened each time acigarette is placed therein.

`In orderrto open :theclosuremember and to groove,-it is .only necessary to depress the knob 6 66, whereby the actuating'lever .52 is moved generally downwardlyanditslower Lendis moved to ward 4the center of the tray. The lever directly moves the closure member `:ill-against the tension of the spring 68, the-tension'of which is slightly increased during the opening operation.' Ciga rettes in the snufng groove are ejected fbythe ejector vtongue 36 and either fall .directly into the receptacle space I4 or upon the flat front surface 94fof the closure member which deects them into the space. When the'actuating lever is released, the closure member is returned to its closed position bythe spring 68.` -f' In the closed position, the closure-member substantially closes theopening but when -it is moved toward its open position, it is movedl away Vfrom the Mopening defining structure by reason of the displacement or offset vbetween the centerof the sphere and the axis about which the sphere moves.` 1 While but` asingle embodiment of the inven tion has `been described in'detail, `it should be. un'- derstood that the specificdetailsthereof are 'not intended to fb'e limitative of the inventionexcept insofar as set forth in the accompanying claims. It should be understood 4also thatr while the invention has been described in connection with an ash tray, this term is used in Va broad sense-to cover not only cigarette .ash trays but also other typesk of smokers accessories provided withA an ash receiving space. y

Having thus described my invention, 'whatI claim asnew and desireto secure by Letters Patent,.is.: l f i 1. :Ash receiving apparatus, includingirx'combination, rstructure defining .a debris receiving opening, a closurev member `having a spherical external surface normally vclosing said opening', means supporting said memberfor lmovement about a fxe'daxis, said `closure member having van external groove extending lengthwise relative tothe direction of movementof'said member, and means including an actuating velement extending .above the structure .in line with said groovel and'having a single fixed pivot connece tion with said closure member'for moving "the latter to its open position. y l

2. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure denlngi a debris receiving opening, a movablywmounted closure member normally closing said opening `and. movable v-to an open position, said member having 'a snuiiing groove extending lengthwiserelative tothe dlrection of Amovement ofA -said lmember, and-'an ejector tongue projecting` from said structure adapted to -pass through said groove as said closure member is moved.V l --f 3: Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination,` structure defining a debris receiving opening, 'afmovably mounted closure member normally closing said opening and movable to an open position, said member having -a snu'ing groove-extending' lengthwise relative to the direction of movementl of said' member, anden ejector tongue projecting from said structure adapted to pass `through said groove as said clo surer member is moved, said tongue being so located thatis substantially closes one end of `the groove when the closure member is in its closed position.

4. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defininga debris receiving opening, a movably mounted closure member normally' closing said opening and' movable to an open position, said member 'having :a snui'ng groove extending lengthwise relative to the direction of movement of said member, an ejector tongue projecting from said structure adapted to pass through said groove as said closure member is moved, and closing one end of said groove when the closure member is in its closed position, and another tongue projecting from said structure closing the opposite end of the groove when the closure member is in its closed position.

5. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination. structure defining a debris receiving opening the edge of which is substantially in a horizontal plane. a closure member having a spherical external portion normally closing said opening, and means supporting said closure member for pivotal movement to an open position about an axis located substantially centrally of and below said opening and fixed relative to said structure, the center of curvature of said spherical portion being displaced relative to said raxis being that said spherical portion moves away from said edge as said closure member is moved toward its open position.

6. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening the edge of which is substantially, in a horizontal plane, a closure member having a spherical external portion normally closing said opening and'in close proximity to said edge, means supporting said closure member for pivotal movement to an open position about an axis located sustantially centrally of and below said opening, the radius of said spherical portion being such and its center being located below and to one side of said axis in the open position of said closure member that insaid position the said spherical external portion is spaced from said edge and approaches said edge as said member moves toward its closed position.

7. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure member movably mounted'l relative to said opening and having a curved exterior surface for closing said opening, and means' pivotally supporting said member for movement about an axis displaced from the center of curvature of said curved exterior surface and xed relative to said structure.

8. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure member, means including a shaft vfor movably mounting said member for movement between open and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, resilient means secured to said shaft and memberfor urging said member toward its closed position, means preventing angular movement of said shaft by said resilient means, and means for rendering said last mentioned means ineffective whereby said shaft can be moved angular-ly to effect adjustment ofsaid resilient means.

9. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure member, means including a shaft for movably mounting said member for movement between open and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, resilient means secured to said shaft and member for urging said member toward its closed position, and means for adjusting and holding said shaft in adjusted angular positions for regulating the force exerted upon said member by said resilient means.

10. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure membenmeans including a shaft for movably mounting said member for movement between open and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, a helical spring secured to said shaft and member for urging said member toward its closed position, means supporting said shaft for axial movement between normal and adjusting positions, and means enabling the angular position of said shaft to be adjusted to vary the spring tension in said adjusting position, said last mentioned means including a noncircular portion upon said shaft and an abutment on said structure engageable thereby for holding said shaft against angular movement in said normal position.

1l. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure member, means including a shaft for movably mounting said member for movement between open and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, and means supported by said shaft for urging said member toward its closed position, said last mentioned means including a mainV spring having one end connected to said member and a keeper spring passing through said shaft and holding the other end of said main spring.

12. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving opening, a closure member, means including a shaft for movably mounting said member for movement between open and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, and means supported by said shaft for urging said member toward its closed position, said last mentioned means including a main spring having one end connected to said member and a loop at its other end and a keeper spring encircling the shaft and having one end passing through said loop and said shaft.

13. An ash tray, including in combination, a base portion, a removable cover including downwardly and inwardly extending walls defining a debris receiving opening-in a substantially horizontal plane, said cover having also a pair of substantially diametrically opposite downwardly extending apertured lugs, and a second opening spaced to one side of the rst opening and substantially midway between said lugs, a substantially horizontally disposed shaft extending through the apertures-in said lugs, means holding said shaft in various adjusted angular positions, a closure member having, a pairv of apertured spaced apart side walls through which said shaft passes and movable about said shaft, said closure member having a spherical portion with a central narrow tapered snuiing groove extending lengthwise relative Ato the direction of the movement of said member and in line with said second opening, saidclosure member having also a front fiat portion, an actuating element fitting loosely in said second opening and passing above the cover and having an abutment at its upper end for limiting its downward movement, said element havingv a generally inwardly extending lower end, means including a pin passing through said lower end and secured. substantially centrally to said closure member for pivotally connecting said element to said.. member, said cover including a pair of downwardly extending tongues closing said groove in the closed position of said closure member and one of which passes through said groove and acts as an ejector tongue when said member is moved to its open position, the center of curvature of said spherical portion of said closure member being offset with respect to the axis of said shaft whereby in closed position the closure member substantially closes said opening and moves away from the edge of said opening when it is moved toward its open position, means including a spring encircling and supported by said'shaft for moving said closure member to its closed position, and means depending downwardly from said cover adjacent one of said tongues for, determining the closed position of said closure member.

14. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure dening a debris receiving opening, a closure member, means including a shaft for movably mounting said member for movement between openV and closed positions, manually operable means connected to said member for moving it toward its open position, spring means secured to said shaft and member for urging said member toward itsclosed position, means supporting said shaft for axial movement between normal and adjusting positions, and means enabling the angular position of said shaft to be adjusted in its adjusting position thereby to vary the spring tension, said means including interengaging portions on said shaft and structure which are engageable with each other in said normal position and which are disengageable upon axial movement of said shaft.

15. Ash receiving apparatus, including in combination, structure defining a debris receiving 10 opening, a closure member having a curved outer surface normally closing said opening, means supporting said closure member for pivotal movement to an open position about an axis located substantially centrally of and below said opening and fixed relative to said structure, said axis and the center of curvature of the outer surface of said closure member being displaced so from each other that said opening is substantially closed by said member in its closed position and that the outer surface of said closure member moves away from said structure as it is moved toward its open position. v

PHILIP S. HARPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 918,928 Thomas Apr. 20, 1909 1,533,682 Woywot Apr. 14, 1925 1,582,061 Lund Apr. 27, 1926 1,672,614 Keller June 5, 1928 1,725,196 Johnson Aug. 20, 1929 1,799,897 Gronbech Apr. 7, 1931 1,876,939 Holt et al Sept. 13, 1932 1,999,140 McDonald Apr. 23, 1935 2,327,518 Glidden Aug. 24, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 860,432 France Sept. 30, 1940 651,767 Germany Oct. 19, 1937 25,465 Great Britain of 1912 489,724 Great Britain Aug. 3, 1938 

